Laura King, chief finance officer with Minnesota State, said “We are a substantial provider of trained citizens into the economies all across Minnesota. Those citizens are increasingly diverse, the communities are growing increasingly diverse and our colleges and universities stand to provide a tremendous service to the communities in years ahead, but we need to be financially healthy to do that.” What’s needed, according King, is a paltry “$178 million in additional state funding over two years.”

That’s only part of their spending increase story. A loyal reader of LFR sent me information on Minnesota State’s Plan B. According to the report, the state of Minnesota should partner “with Minnesota State colleges and universities to identify additional sources of public revenue beyond the general revenue fund (e.g., dedicated lottery funds; local sales or property tax options; other dedicated state or local revenue streams) that could support our colleges and universities across the state.”

That’s a Hail Mary attempt worthy of Aaron Rodgers. “Minnesota State”, which is what MnSCU is now officially called, knows that there isn’t even a slight chance of this happening with a Republican legislature. Republicans are looking at tax relief, not tax increases.

Minnesota State isn’t the only place where mismanagement is the rule, not the exception. This fossil needs to be replaced ASAP:

House Higher Education Chairman Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, said serious decisions regarding higher education allocations will have to wait for the February economic and budget report. However, he said, he believes most representatives would see the new funding as a good investment.

“Between the University of Minnesota and (Minnesota State), it adds up to a pretty sizeable request,” he said. “But we trust it’s all needed. I don’t think anybody comes here and asks for more than we need.”

That’s stunning. Rep. Nornes needs to be removed from that committee ASAP. Clearly, he isn’t interested in investigating whether the universities spend the state allocation wisely.